In women's cycling, emotions are never in short supply: we had confirmation of this over all 145 kilometers of the Saluzzo / Saluzzo, the final stage of the Giro d'Italia Women won by Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE team ADQ) ahead of Niamh Fisher-Black Fisher Black (Lidl Trek) and Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM) who animated the race with a long breakaway. In fourth position Demi Vollering (FDJ United - SUEZ) who, with an attack in the final stretch managed to distance Anna Van der Breggen, gaining seconds upon seconds and thus succeeding in winning the Giro d'Italia. The European champion claimed the final pink jersey and the overall classification victory with a 30-second advantage over Niedermaier and 1'37" over Van der Breggen. Elisa Longo Borghini completed these nine stages in fourth position, 2'54" behind Vollering.

Beyond the general classification, the FDJ United Suez captain also claims the climbers' classification while Elisa Balsamo takes home the red jersey of the points classification and Canadian Holmgren is crowned best young rider, wearing the white jersey.

THE STAGE - The race heated up after about fifty kilometers from the start: Demi Vollering (FDJ Suez) on the Montoso climb forced the pace, bringing to her wheel Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx Protime) and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) later joined by Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon Sram), Femke De Vries (Visma Lease a Bike), Lauren Dickson (FDJ Suez), Valentina Cavallar (SD Worx), Isabella Holmgren and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl Trek).

On the descent, from the breakaway, Antonia Niedermaier attacked again, closely followed by Elisa Longo Borghini and Niamh Fisher-Black who gained up to 2'00" on the pink jersey group with the German Canyon Sram rider holding the virtual pink jersey for several kilometers.

At the foot of the Colletta di Brondello, the final climb of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women, the women in the lead had 1'54" on the Van der Breggen, Vollering, De Vries and Dickson group while the group with white jersey Holmgren was reported at over 2'00".

On the slopes of the climb, after working hard for the captain, Dickson dropped off; the same fate befell De Vries.

One kilometer from the Colletta Brondello summit, Vollering changed pace, leaving the pink jersey on the pedals and moving forward personally to chase the leading trio. The athletes at the front of the race passed the KOM (won by Niedermaier) with 53" on the Italian jersey and 1'23" on the pink jersey Van der Breggen. The advantage was much greater and so, at the entrance to Saluzzo, attention shifted to the women in the lead who were fighting for the stage victory and the final podium of the "pink race". On the final straightaway, Fisher-Black attempted a long sprint but was passed by Longo Borghini who crossed the finish line shouting with joy.

STAGE RESULTS

1 Longo Borghini Elisa UAE Team ADQ 4' 03:45:09

2 Fisher-Black Niamh Lidl - Trek ,,

3 Niedermaier Antonia CANYON//SRAM 2' 00:02

4 Vollering Demi FDJ United - SUEZ 6' 00:03

5 de Vries Femke Team Visma | Lease a Bike 02:23

6 van der Breggen Anna Team SD Worx - Protime ,,

7 Haugset Sigrid Ytterhus Uno-X Mobility 05:59

8 Dickson Lauren FDJ United - SUEZ ,,

9 Holmgren Isabella Lidl - Trek 06:01

10 Vallieres Magdeleine EF Education-Oatly ,,

FINAL CLASSIFICATION

1 Vollering Demi FDJ United - SUEZ 29:54:19

2 Niedermaier Antonia CANYON//SRAM 00:30

3 van der Breggen Anna Team SD Worx - Protime 01:37

4 Longo Borghini Elisa UAE Team ADQ 02:44

5 Fisher-Black Niamh Lidl - Trek 03:26

6 de Vries Femke Team Visma | Lease a Bike 05:07

7 Holmgren Isabella Lidl - Trek 07:10

8 Žigart Urška AG Insurance - Soudal Team 12:19

9 Cavallar Valentina Team SD Worx - Protime 13:12

10 De Schepper Lore AG Insurance - Soudal Team 13:29